Sunday 18 August 2019 – Registration for existing School Age Services closes

Friday 11 October 2019 – NCS capital applications close at 3p.m.

Announcements

Registration of School-age Childcare services

Please note the closing date for registration is 18th May. It is a legal requirement to register and you will need to be a registered service to enter into contract for the new national childcare scheme.

Existing services have until 18th August to register.

Wicklow County Childcare Committee are running a free information workshop for existing School-age Childcare services and Childminders on the following date;

Tuesday 18th June, 7pm – 9pm

Blessington Education Centre

To book a place please complete our online booking form on our website.

National Childcare Scheme

We have been advised by DCYA clarifications in relation to queries on the scheme and the operational rules will be available in the near future. Information will also be up on PIP in the near future in relation to entering into contract for the new National Childcare Scheme.

The guidelines set out the application process for capital funding which will allow service providers, who sign up to the new National Childcare Scheme to purchase ICT support, which will assist them in recording and reporting children’s attendance.

Providers can purchase ICT support which meets the eligibility criteria and will be reimbursed for the amount spent, up to the maximum amount allowable. A full list of eligibility criteria is laid out in the application guidelines below.

Please note:

Applications for funding can be made through the Programmes Implementation Platform (PIP) from June 2019.

The maximum grants will vary depending on the size of the service availing of State supports, and will range from €500 to €2,000.

Providers must have entered into a contract to participate in the National Childcare Scheme to avail of the NCS Capital funding.

Further details on the format for the recording and reporting of attendance will be set out in an Appendix to the NCS Contract.

Only eligible ICT equipment and software purchased from the date a service signed their National Childcare Scheme contract will be eligible for consideration.

Services must only apply for the amount of eligible expenditure incurred, up to the maximum grant applicable to the service.

In order for parents to apply for subsidies under the National Childcare Scheme they will need to have a MyGov Account set up. Please see below a step by step guide on how to do this.

Early Years Service Profile 2018/2019

​The 2018/2019 Early Years Service Profile launches on Monday 13th May. The annual survey is developed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Pobal in consultation with key stakeholders in the early years sector.

The deadline for completing the survey is 5pm, Friday 24th May.

We are asking all services to make the time over this period to complete the survey as the data collected will be used by the Government to inform policy, planning and investment in Early Learning and Care over the year ahead. The data is anonymised so no individual service can be identified.

If you have any queries about completing your service profile, please contact the Pobal Helpdesk at:

AIM level 7 supports

If you have a child/children with AIM level 7 supports currently attending your service and they are starting their second year of ECCE in September, you must put in an AIM extension request. This can be done through the AIM tab on PIP from Wednesday 1st May.

If you have a child who will be starting the ECCE scheme in September who will need AIM support, you will be able to access the Access and Inclusion Profile on PIP from Wednesday 1st May. You are advised to apply as early as you can.

First Aid Responder (FAR) Reimbursement – Registered Early Years Service & Registered Childminders

Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, a new regulatory requirement will come into force from June 1st, 2020. From this date under Regulation 25, there must be a person(s) who has trained in FAR (First Aid Response) with a trainer approved by the Pre- Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) immediately available to children attending the childcare service.

The DCYA has opened a FAR Reimbursement Fund which will fund one FAR first aid training place per registered early learning and care services / registered childminders to a maximum of €225 per full course or €175 per refresher course. To support the sector to meet this requirement services can claim back the cost of one staff member attending this training.

The training: on completion of this 3-day/18 hr course, the First Aid Responder will be equipped with the necessary practical skills, knowledge and confidence to give effective life support, diagnose and treat injuries or illness, and maintain care and comfort of a patient who has become suddenly ill or injured in the workplace or elsewhere until the arrival of emergency medical services. Services can claim back the cost of one person attending FAR (either full or refresher) on behalf of your service. To do this you must submit an application form, with a copy of the FAR certificate and a receipt for the cost of the course. WCCC will be processing the payments quarterly; the payment schedule is as follows:

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

Quarter 4

Application closing date (for payment in that quarter)

14th June 2019

13th September 2019

19th November 2019

13th March 2020

Payment dates

28th June 2019

27th September 2019

13th December 2019

27th March 2020

**REMINDER**

IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED FAR TRAINING SINCE 1ST JAN 2019, PLEASE SUBMIT THE PAPERWORK FOR FEE REIMBURSEMENT ASAP TO info@wccc.ie

Training

Child protection and welfare training for the early years sector in Wicklow is delivered by Wicklow County Childcare Committee. The role that early years practitioners have in the lives of children and their families means that they are uniquely placed to recognise when there are concerns about the safety, welfare or well-being of a child. Early years practitioners and services also have a responsibility for safeguarding the children in their care through their policies, procedures and practice.

This is a new training programme and has been updated to reflect the changes in the revised Children First: National Guidance and the Children First Act 2015. This Foundation Training is a standardised programme for all staff involved in direct work with children and families. All Designated Liaison Persons (DLP) and Deputy Designated Liaison Persons (DDLP) will be prioritised for this training. There will be no refresher training available in 2019.

Please note: The E-Learning programme “Introduction to Children First” must be completed prior to attending this training. You will be required to forward a copy of your E-Learning completion certificate to complete your booking for this training. E-Learning available via link below.

This is a Child & Family Agency accredited module that has been developed for the early years’ sector. Certification is valid for three years. Cost €10 per person payable at time of booking via eventbrite.

The next available dates are:

12th August, 10am – 4pm, Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh

20th August, 10am – 4pm, Ballywaltrim Community Centre, Bray

GDPR Training Tutorial for Early Years Services

REMINDER The online General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Training Tutorial for Early Years Services is available on the PIP Portal until 23rd October 2019. https://pip.pobal.ie/

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